We don't have a running problem

cowboys2233 said:
But that's what is so sad. What does 2nd and 5 or 3rd and 2 mean to this team? It means we have to throw the ball, just like we would have to at any other distance. Does anyone actually think when we line up in a 3rd and 2, we'd actually convert running the ball? I agree with you, there is no point "committing" to a running game that simply doesn't work. At the same time, no running game means no success, especially in the red zone. There is such an utter lack of a running threat (without Murray) it can make what should be a top-five passing offense look completely inept.
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Does it, though? We've been an effective red zone offense this season. We've got passing plays that can consistently convert on 3rd and short. If we're able to stay out of third and longs in the first place, does it really hurt us to not run the ball? The unproductive running on early downs is what hurts us.

The problem in DET offensively was that we were not in manageable third down situations, and there wasn't enough time to be successful on those plays at that point. Even so, were we more effective slowing their passing game down, that's a game we win fairly handily on the road.
 
Idgit said:
Does it, though? We've been an effective red zone offense this season. We've got passing plays that can consistently convert on 3rd and short. If we're able to stay out of third and longs in the first place, does it really hurt us to not run the ball? The unproductive running on early downs is what hurts us.

The problem in DET offensively was that we were not in manageable third down situations, and there wasn't enough time to be successful on those plays at that point. Even so, were we more effective slowing their passing game down, that's a game we win fairly handily on the road.
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Maybe we have been an effective red zone offense this year, but can't you see it fading just as rapidly as ever? Maybe the numbers don't support me, not sure, I haven't seen how our red zone efficiency has been trending over the last few games. But you can feel it slipping away. Again, the first TD catch by Dez last week was spectacular and fun (and helped our red zone efficiency numbers) but it shouldn't have to come down to miracle catches like that. It's just starting to look so difficult, regardless of how close we are to the end zone, just like it did last year.
 
cowboys2233 said:
Maybe we have been an effective red zone offense this year, but can't you see it fading just as rapidly as ever? Maybe the numbers don't support me, not sure, I haven't seen how our red zone efficiency has been trending over the last few games. But you can feel it slipping away. Again, the first TD catch by Dez last week was spectacular and fun (and helped our red zone efficiency numbers) but it shouldn't have to come down to miracle catches like that. It's just starting to look so difficult, regardless of how close we are to the end zone, just like it did last year.
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I don't know, either, and I'm lazy. I suspect from just watching the games that our issues have been more with drives stalling, and that we've still been effective in the red zones when we manage to get there. I actually think we've been pretty faithfully running the ball on first downs, too, with Murray out. But again, that's just what I recall from the last two games. We're just not getting anywhere doing it.
 
Even with Murray, we don't run the ball well. Face it, the offensive minds in Dallas aren't interested in running the ball no matter what they say. It's hurting the team tremendously.
 
Why do we need to run the ball? I think the talk of balance is more lip service coming from the coach. I think they feel they need to talk about balance and the need to run because that's what most coaches do but they seem to be built to spread and throw. They have RBs that are "hands" guys, more elusive and speed guys vs. ground churners. We have a heavy investment in the WRs and TEs and little investment in the RBs. Our lineman specialize in neither run or pass. Why the hell do we think we can add so many outside weapons, give the QB more influence, continue to invest premium resource into the WR and TE positions and in the end worry about our run game. That is the problem with this team IMO. They don't have an identity and don't recognize what they are built to do. If you want to run as a priority, get rid of Austin, Hanna, Murray, Escobar and Beasley and get to the task of building a running game. Otherwise, Jason and Jerry stop pretending, end the offensive schizophrenia and let your QB do his thing.
 
Again, its a scheme problem.

Where did the delay draw go? When you are so predictable that nearly every time you run the ball is from under center, the shotgun delay draw could at least function to keep the defense honest. Apparently that is too obvious a solution.
 
Zordon said:
the team needs to stop looking at these 6'0, long lean running backs. get a 5'9,-5'11 short but stocky running back in the mold of ray rice or marshawn lynch. we need a running back with a lower center of gravity that will help with the injury issues.
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This^^^
 
Again, point out what game that we didn't run the ball well outside of the games that JG ABANDONED it! You can't cause it was effective while Murray was healthy when he was given the rock. The run game is ineffective is just ignorant!! Not one game this season where we trailed by so much that the run game had to be abandoned, not ONE! If you bring up Denver, we had a 2-score lead and lost it by passing which forced more throws to catch back up. Up 2 scores on Peyton should have been a mandatory call of runs to keep him off the field, but not us. We dumb and some of y'all are ignorant in the truest form for thinking the run game is/was ineffective when stats show Murray was producing running the rock. Randle was even productive his first start replacing Murray. We have a lack of commitment problem like the OP SMARTLY identified!
 
17yearsandcounting said:
Again, its a scheme problem.

Where did the delay draw go? When you are so predictable that nearly every time you run the ball is from under center, the shotgun delay draw could at least function to keep the defense honest. Apparently that is too obvious a solution.
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Yup, the one truly innovative thing Garrett has done here seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur.
 
The team runs from insultingly obvious running formations and they do it with TEs who can't block.
 
Carolinacowpoke said:
I don't understand how it's being reported that we have problems running the football. We have a problem "committing" to running the ball. Life we be so much easier for this club if we had more balance between run and pass. RUN THE BALL RED!
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Garrett, Callahan and Romo have a pass first mentality even after a run play is called, Romo will opt to audible to a pass. It is what Red Ball has done his entire career as an assistant and head coach. Think pass, pass on running the ball and when in doubt, pass the ball. Pass, pass, pass except when you need to to win the game, then go into your cocoon and run to darkness. I was at the Pats game several years ago when we had the ball and a three point lead and instead of passing we ran (something we had proved all day we could not do against the Patriots defense). Yup, you know it, three runs, a punt and Tom Brady gets the ball back with 2 minutes to go and he marches the length of the field and throws the winning touchdown.

Sound familiar?
 
Carolinacowpoke said:
I don't understand how it's being reported that we have problems running the football. We have a problem "committing" to running the ball. Life we be so much easier for this club if we had more balance between run and pass. RUN THE BALL RED!
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Cowboys have a running problem because they wait to run on 2nd or 3rddown, instead of running on 1st down.
 
This team needs to pass about 75% of the time.Quit forcing to do what we can't do well.
Tony and Dez are our best players.
They're the only chance to win.
 
Carolinacowpoke said:
I don't understand how it's being reported that we have problems running the football. We have a problem "committing" to running the ball. Life we be so much easier for this club if we had more balance between run and pass. RUN THE BALL RED!
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We can't run successfully when we absolutely must - e.g., late in the 4th with the lead. I don't think that problem goes away by running the ball more earlier in the game.
 
dallasdave said:
Cowboys have a running problem because they wait to run on 2nd or 3rddown, instead of running on 1st down.
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Actually, i like passing on 1st down a lot. Your more likely to see a defense with less coverage players in on 1st down then you are on 3rd down. On 2nd and long or 3rd down and more than 3 you are passing against the teams pass defense - and i think this particular team will often be in 2nd and long if they run on 1st down against a teams base defense.
 
I keep hearing this from people and it makes little sense. How can you keep running when we suck at it?

This team averages 21.8 carries a game, averages 3.7 yards a carry and 80 yards a game.

26 teams out of 32 average more than 3.7 yards a carry and you think they don't have a problem running the ball?

This past Sunday they took your advice. The ran the ball 26 times for an average of 2.6 yards a carry. You have to be the only person who watched the game who thought they should have run the ball more?

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We have a running problem in the sense that we have only one serviceable back in the injury-prong Murray.
 
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